Warming up nicely

Springtime at the Green Heart Den

New study confirms benefits of gardening for mental and physical health!

 New study confirms benefits of gardening for mental and physical health! - http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/may/17/doctors-should-prescribe-gardening-for-patients-more-often-says-report

Common blue butterfly (male and female)

Our lilac in full bloom

Celebrating nature, nutrition and one of the most important plants

Free growing guides and advice from First Poly Tunnels

"First Poly Tunnels have produce free growing guides that will take you through a whole 12 months of activity in your poly tunnel. What you should be doing, what to look out for, maintenance and ideas to maximise your crops, PLUS... what to plant, pick and enjoy"

For more detailed please visit the First Poly Tunnels website here.

Getting the most out of every inch in the poly tunnel

Our first crop of strawberries in the poly tunnel

Our friends from Cadas preparing onion sets

Strawberry plants bearing fruit in the poly tunnel

Planting summer crops in the raised planters

A welcomed visit from Ramsden Infants school

What to do in April - Free advice and top tips from Thompson and Morgan

Cant think of just what to do in the garden ?

Thompson and Morgan have detailed their top tasks for this month. Topics include:

What to do in the greenhouse

What to do in the fruit garden

What to do in the vegetable garden

What to do in the flower garden

For more information please visit the Thompson and Morgan website here.

Beaumont College have been busy with their raised planter and seedlings

Our friends from Cadas preparing summer crops

Common lizard and slow worm enjoying the sun

Common lizards and slow worms are protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

Vegetable crops for small spaces - free advice from Gardeners World.

You dont always need a large plot for growing vegetables, there are many varieties you can grow in small spaces.

For more information on how to grow these vegetables please visit Gardeners World website here. 

Preparing strawberry plants for summer

Its getting busy in the poly tunnel

Early crops flourishing in some of the raised planters

Brightening up the undergrowth

First sighting of a peacock butterfly this year

How you can help bumblebees

If you find a bumblebee stranded or looking sleepy, they may need help to boost their energy levels with a simple sugar-water mix. Mix equal parts of white sugar and warm water then pour into a small container for me. If you place the bee next to flowers outside with the artificial mix this should help them on their way!

For more information on how you can help bees please visit the Bumblebee Conservation Trust website here

Common lizards basking in the early Easter sun

How to Sow a Wild Flower Patch with Hannah Grows

Grow Wild is giving away thousands of native wild flower seeds! Details of how to claim a packet of free seeds can be found on the Grow Wild website here.

10 vegetables you can grow in shade - advice from Gardeners World

Do you want to grow vegetables but don"t have a sunny spot? 

If so Gardeners World has detailed 10 shade-tolerant plants on their webpage here.

Early pollinators enjoying the spring sun

RHS Veg planner

March Wildflower Spotters sheet from Plantlife

Iris flowering around our water feature

Snowdrops flowering in the undergrowth

The benefits of companion planting

Companion planting is about grouping a variety of plants which have a mutual benefits to each other. It can be an organic way to protect your crops from pests and it could help improve the pollination of fruit and vegetable crops. 

If you are interested you can find a list of good companion plants at:

Thompson and Morgan

Gardeners World

Making a nest box

Making a nest box couldn't be simpler and is a great way to attract birds into your garden.

If you would like to make a nest box more detailed information can be found at:

RSPB

BTO - National Nest Box week

Gardeners World

Growing tomatoes - free tips and top advice

Growing your own tomatoes is simple and with just a couple of plants you can be rewarded with plenty of delicious tomatoes throughout the summer. They come in a large variety of colours and sizes,from small cherry tomatoes to giant beefsteak tomatoes making them ideal for gardens of any size, including patios, window boxes, containers and even hanging baskets.

For more information and free tips and advise on growing tomatoes please visit:

Thompson and Morgan

Gardeners World

Royal Horticultural Society

Crocus flowering in the winter sun

Gardeners Worlds top ten vegetables for beginners

More and more people are trying to grow vegetables and finding that some are harder to grow than others.

Gardeners World has produced a top ten list of easy to grow vegetables aimed at the novice gardener. If you would like more information please visit their website here.

Home composting

Compost made from recycled garden and kitchen waste is an excellent way of producing free soil conditioner, plant food and potting mixes. You do not need a large space as compost heaps can be designed to suit gardens of all sizes.

If you would like more information on how to make and use good quality compost please visit:
the Garden Organic website here and the Recycle Now website here.